Jan 4, 2025 By the Herald-Standard 5 min read

Trevor Kovatch sank five of six foul shots in the final 23 seconds to lift Belle Vernon over Elizabeth Forward, 63-59, in a key Section 3-AAAA game, giving Leopards coach Joe Salvino his 731st career win in the process Friday night.

Salvino moved past the late Ken Misiak, longtime coach of Geibel Catholic who compiled 730 victories, into second place in WPIAL history.

Salvino, in his 41st season, which includes 34 years at Monessen and now seven at Belle Vernon, saw his Leopards improve to 3-1 in the section and 8-4 overall.

Zion Moore led Belle Vernon with a game-high 22 points and Kovatch finished with 19.

Tyler Basic hit five 3-pointers during a 16-point performance in pacing the Warriors (2-1, 8-3) who also got 15 points from Daniel Spench, 12 from James Gile and 10 from Cy Herchelroath.

Belle Vernon led 17-8 after the first quarter but EF surged to a 27-26 halftime advantage and held a 42-39 edge after three.

The Warriors were up 59-58 but Kovatch made two free throws with 22 seconds left to put the hosts in front to stay, then added one of two with 11 seconds left and hit two more with 1 second left.

Franklin Regional 59, Laurel Highlands 45 – The Panthers outscored the visiting Mustangs 20-5 in the third quarter to take control and went on to victory from there in a Section 1-AAAAA game.

Laurel Highlands (0-4, 3-8) led 9-8 after the first quarter and trailed 25-23 at halftime before Franklin Regional (1-3, 5-6) shot out to a 43-30 advantage after three.

Connor Crossey led the Panthers with 21 points and Jonah Johnson had 15.

Luke Martin tossed in 16 points for the Mustangs.

Gateway 60, Albert Gallatin 42 – The Gators steadily pulled away from the host Colonials to claim a Section 1-AAAAA win.

Gateway (3-1, 5-4) led 18-10, 34-17 and 52-28 at the quarter breaks.

Mykel Bruce-McCommon scored 16 points for the Gators who also got 10 points apiece from Jax Vovans and Chris Settles.

Shymere Wilson tallied 16 points for Albert Gallatin (2-2, 7-4) to tie for game-high honors.

Brownsville 61, Mount Pleasant 60 – Maxime Dieodonne scored a game-high 19 points and the visiting Falcons held off a fourth-quarter rally to edge the Vikings in a Section 4-AAA game.

Brownsville (1-1, 3-9) led 19-18, 31-26 and 48-34 at the quarter before Mount Pleasant stormed back with a 26-17 advantage in the final frame.

Cameron Phillips added 10 points for the Falcons.

Cole Masari paced the Vikings (0-2, 0-11) with 18 points and Aiden Johnson added 11.

Upper St. Clair 70, Connellsville 15 – The first-place Panthers held the visiting Falcons to single digits in every quarter on their way to a Section 2-AAAAAA win.

Kaamil Jackson scored 16 points for Upper St. Clair (4-0, 11-1) which also got 10 points apiece from Dane York and Ryan Robbins.

Jayden Mickens led Connellsville (0-4, 3-8) with four points.

Jefferson-Morgan 50, West Greene 35 – The Rockets soared back from an early eight-point deficit to defeat the visiting Pioneers in a battle for sole possession of first place in Section 3-AA.

Houston Guesman led a balanced Jefferson-Morgan attack with 13 points. Jeremiah Robertson followed with 12 points and Jase Bedillion added 10.

West Greene (3-1, 5-5) led 10-2 after the first quarter but the Rockets (4-0, 8-2) fought back to tie the game at halftime, 20-20, then outscored the Pioneers 20-7 in the third and stayed in control the rest of the way.

Lane Allison was the top scorer for West Greene with 12 points.

Beth-Center 66, Carmichaels 34 – Parker Amos led a group of four players in double figures with 16 points as the Bulldogs triumphed over the visiting Mikes in a Section 3-AA game.

Santino Revi (14), Jason Zellie (14) and Brayden Hull (11) also scored in double digits for Beth-Center (3-1, 6-4).

Robbie Wilson-Jones and Colin Andrews each scored eight points for Carmichaels (1-3, 2-7).

Clairton 63, California 41 – The Bears outscored the host Trojans 42-16 in the middle two quarters during their Section 1-AA victory.

Taris Wooding led Clairton (3-1, 3-3) with 16 points, JaJuan Bailey had 12 and Kahmani Parrotte chipped in with 10.

Jacob Ziolecki topped California (0-4, 2-8) in scoring with 15 points and Caden Monticelli added 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Jeannette 73, Frazier 33 – The unbeaten Jayhawks put four players in double figures, led by Kymone Brown and Marcus McGowan with 17 points each, on their way to a Section 1-AA win over the visiting Commodores.

Xavier Ororisio-Farrow added 13 points and Lonnie Greene contributed 12 for Jeannette (4-0, 10-0).

Brant Alekson tossed in 10 points for Frazier (0-4, 2-9).

Fort Cherry 73, Mapletown 36 – Shane Cornali scored 20 points as the Rangers knocked off the host Maples in a Section 3-AA game.

Nathan Wolfe added 11 points for Fort Cherry (2-2, 3-6).

Lucas Stevenson rang up 17 points for Mapletown (0-4, 0-9).

Geibel Catholic 70, St. Joseph 57 – Evan Strimel poured in a game-high 30 points as the host Gators came back in the second half to defeat St. Joseph in a Section 2-A game.

St. Joseph led 17-8 after the first quarter and 30-23 at halftime. Geibel roared back with a 24-15 edge in the third quarter to go up 47-45, then outscored the visitors 23-12 in the final frame.

Eahn Stevenson tallied 12 points and Roman Riccelli added nine for the Gators (1-1, 6-4).

Gabe Maltese had 19 points for St. Joseph (2-1, 6-5) which also got 17 points from Ryan McCarthy and 11 from Ben Bartolovic.

Girls basketball

Seton LaSalle 49, Waynesburg Central 34 – Tiara Curry tossed in 21 points in the first-place Lady Rebels’ Section 3-AAA win over the host Lady Raiders.

Addie Lonergan followed with 15 points for Seton LaSalle (4-0, 8-3).

Avery Davis racked up 18 points for Waynesburg (2-1, 6-3) which also got 10 points from Peyton Cowell.

Bentworth 39, Carmichaels 26 – Jesse Laskey scored 13 points for the Lady Bearcats in a Section 3-AA win over the visiting Lady Mikes.

Aubrie Logan grabbed nine rebounds and Belle Moyer had eight for Bentworth (2-0, 6-5).

Ali Jacobs tallied seven points for Carmichaels (0-2, 0-10).

Rescheduled: Games that were postponed and rescheduled Friday night were Waynesburg Central at Charleroi boys (Jan. 11), Southmoreland at Ligonier Valley boys (Jan. 8) and Brownsville at Albert Gallatin girls (Jan. 13).